Softball

UCSB Splits on Second Day of Red Desert Classic

ST. GEORGE, Utah -
UC Santa Barbara (2-1) split a pair of games on the second day of the Red Desert Classic, defeating Tulsa (1-1), 3-1, before falling to the tournament's host BYU (3-0), 13-3, later in the day.

In the first game of the day, Tulsa got on the scoreboard in the first inning when Samantha Cobb drove Lauren Lindsay in for the first run. The Gauchos trailed until the fourth inning when senior Kelsey Anderson hit a two-run homer to give UCSB a slight, 2-1, advantage.

The Gauchos scored again at the top of the seventh when freshman Keilani Jennings hit a sacrifice fly to left field sending senior Jessica Ziegler home for the final run of the game.

Sophomore Amanda Ziegler went 2-for-3 with a run and sophomore Jamie Adishian was 2-for-4 at the plate in the win. Senior MeLinda Matsumoto (1-0) picked up the win after tossing a complete game and allowing one earned run on six hits. She walked three and struck out three.

The Cougars responded at the bottom of the same inning with an onslaught of seven runs. Caschjen Davis Atagi got the ball rolling with an RBI single and then Kristin Delahoussaye hit a double with a pair of runners on, driving in two more runs. J.C. Clayton's RBI single stretched the BYU lead to four. Two batters later in the lineup, Andrea Ramirez drove in three more with a home run to left field, giving the Cougars a six-run advantage.

UCSB squeezed in a run at the top of the third when Jessica Ziegler stole third and then came home on a wild pitch, but a pair of three-RBI homers in the bottom of the third by Angeline Quicho and Delaney Willard pushed the BYU lead to 13-2 at the bottom of the same inning.

The Gauchos managed one more run when freshman Kelly McDonald drove senior Jessica Ziegler home on a two-out RBI single to center field at the top of the fifth. UCSB was then able to load the bases, but the Cougars got the final out and cut the game short with the mercy-rule victory.

McDonald led the Gauchos going 2-for-3 with an RBI against the Cougars. In the circle, sophomore Krista Cobb (1-1) took the loss after pitching 1.1 innings and allowing five earned runs on five hits.

The Gauchos will conclude action in St. George on Saturday as the take-on Maine and Utah Valley at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., respectively.

UCSB will open its 2010 home schedule on Wednesday, Feb. 17 against No. 6 UCLA at Campus Diamond. To purchase tickets, please call (805) 893-UCSB, visit the Ticket Office located inside the Intercollegiate Athletics building on campus or click here.